What should I be doing now?

[joey123]

I am 30 weeks pregnant. Just wondering what I should be doing by now, or soon, to prepare for my VBA2C?

I am drinking a cup of raspberry leaf tea at breakfast and then taking RL tablets at lunch and dinner (the bottle says take 2 twice a day), so the tea is on top of the recommended.

What else should I be doing? It's been a while ... when do I start EPO, perineal (sp?) massage, ... what else?

Thanks!!

[Traveller]

Now would be a good time to start relaxation exercises, or meditation. If you don't want to do a class like calmbirthing then something simple like a favourite fragrance on your pillow every night from now will help you relax in labour (as long as you bring that fragrance with you on a hanky or in a burner it will instantly remind you of falling asleep).

I would lay off a little on the RL tea, personally I did not start it until closer to full term. But you could start perineal massage now. EPO is for closer to the birth, maybe from 37 or 38 weeks.

HTH xx

[joey123]

Thanks

Also what's the go with aromatherapy? I didn't use it last time. What and when should I use it?

[Traveller]

There are two schools of through on aromatherapy. One is that the smells are relaxing because they just smell nice, the other is that they have a physical effect on the body. Lavender is a good general use oil, that can be mixed into a massage rub, left on a hanky by your pillow, or put into an oil burner. It is said to have relaxing qualities. Oils like Jasmine and Clary Sage are not safe to use until you are 37wks+ as they stimulate uterine activity. They are often used for "inducing" labour, or for stimulating lactation post birth.

During my labour I was given a rub of lemongrass, lavender and black pepper to help restart my contractions, and it worked brilliantly.

The best thing to do is speak to an aromatherapist, or borrow a book on the subject from the library, then decide how (if at all) you want to use oils in pregnancy and labour. If you are not sure I would recommend lavender on a hanky near your pillow, and nearer the birth add a few drops of clary sage to your lavender. In labour you can add this to a carrier oil for a massage blend, or burn it in an electric oil burner (a lot of labour suites have these now).

[Arimeh]

I use RLT at the moment, just 2 cups a day mostly. There is a clinic on the sunshine coast that will make you a homeopathic remedy to take - for before labour, during and after as well, so I switch to that at 36 weeks.

I also start my EPO and massage at 36 weeks too.

And I rub some Clary Sage oil into my tummy as well from 36 weeks, BUT, its highly diluted in almond oil.